blueteamnovel Chapter 167 Yangcheng
Chapter 167 Yangcheng
In the central part of Zhongzhou, a streak of azure light swept across the sky like a shooting star.
Li Jingyun is rushing to Yangcheng.
The teleportation array is the lifeline of the war in Zhongzhou. Xia Linxian entrusted him with this important task, and he must finalize the cooperation with the Yang family as soon as possible.
Within the Nine Provinces, the Yang family is unparalleled in its mastery of the laws of space.
Since the establishment of the Yang family clan, eight or nine out of ten teleportation arrays in major cities or powerful forces across the Nine Provinces have been created by Yang family array masters.
Even the massive inter-state teleportation array connecting Qingzhou and Zhongzhou was led by a grandmaster of array formations from the Yang family.
Yangcheng is the main base of the Yang family, which has been operating for thousands of years. Although it still lags behind the number one city in Zhongzhou, it is still an important town in the region.
The city lord of Yangcheng is concurrently held by the patriarch of the Yang clan. In terms of strength, the Yang family is one of the top forces in the Nine Provinces.
A few days later, Li Jingyun entered Yangcheng and went straight to the Yang family's main pavilion in the city center.
After Li Jingyun presented the Taoist academy's jade token, the gatekeeper disciples, upon learning that the visitor was Li Jingyun, dared not neglect him and immediately led the way, guiding him into the east side hall.
The side hall is quiet and elegant, with fragrant incense wafting through the air. The four corners are equipped with the Yang family's secret spatial restriction array, which can isolate the divine senses of both inside and outside the hall. It is a secluded place to receive distinguished guests from all directions.
Li Jingyun sat on a jade chair, and shortly after, Yang Xuan, the head of Yangzhong Central Plains, slowly entered.
Yang Xuan had a gentle face. Upon seeing Li Jingyun, he cupped his hands in greeting and said, "Fellow Daoist has come from afar. I apologize for not welcoming you properly."
Li Jingyun rose to return the greeting and got straight to the point: "Master Yang, I have come today on behalf of the Dao Academy to discuss with the Yang family the operation of the teleportation array throughout the Central Plains."
"Senior Brother Li, please speak freely." Yang Xuan smiled and sat down, already understanding the situation.
"The Dao Academy is willing to contract the operation of the teleportation arrays in all the cities of the Yang family in Zhongzhou for nearly three months." Li Jingyun's tone was calm, and the conditions he offered were extremely generous.
"All maintenance expenses will be borne by the Taoist Academy, and the Yang family will be paid in spirit stones on a daily basis. Even if the great formation is not in operation, the Taoist Academy will still pay the transportation fees without fail."
This condition is an absolute advantage for the Yang family, guaranteeing them a profit without any risk.
Yang Xuan remained calm, setting down his teacup and speaking in a measured tone: "The Dao Academy is showing great sincerity, but this matter is of utmost importance."
"Moreover, the Yang family has strict rules. For the cooperation on the teleportation array across the entire Kyushu region, all elders must be present to repeatedly verify the array base accounts before the patriarch makes the final decision."
"The process is complicated and can take anywhere from half a month to more than a month, so it can't be rushed."
"A fixed price of one thousand top-grade spirit stones per day. After the academy contracts all the teleportation arrays, it will only give priority to its own disciples, but the profit will be paid to the Yang family based on the daily profit at full capacity."
"Your family will only profit from this deal," Li Jingyun said with a burning gaze.
Yang Xuan paused, seemingly unconcerned about the immediate profits: "The Yang family has stood firm in the Nine Provinces for thousands of years, relying on neutrality. We act in accordance with clan rules and procedures in all matters, daring not to show the slightest favoritism. I hope Fellow Daoist Li will understand."
It would be a lie to say he wasn't tempted; who would turn down a spirit stone? But he knew what Li Jingyun was planning to do.
Spirit stones are something to be earned, but the Heavenly Spirit Holy Land must not be offended.
Li Jingyun was exceptionally intelligent and instantly discerned the Yang family's intentions.
The Yang family was observing the general trend in Zhongzhou, unwilling to offend the Dao Academy backed by the Dayan Immortal Dynasty, nor to provoke the Tianling Holy Land, which held the Zhongzhou Cauldron and wanted to establish the Tianling Immortal Dynasty.
However, the Qingzhou inter-state teleportation array will not be completed for several more days, and he simply cannot afford to wait that long.
If the Heavenly Spirit Holy Land were allowed to use the teleportation array without restraint to consolidate its power, their efficiency would be extremely high.
Moreover, the Heavenly Spirit Holy Land will definitely take action.
"Master Yang, I am aware of the Yang family's difficulties." Li Jingyun suppressed his anxiety and spoke calmly.
"However, with chaos already breaking out in the Central Plains, teleportation arrays have become the lifeline of transportation."
"The Dao Academy is backed by a massive army of 100,000 cultivators from the Great Yan Immortal Dynasty. We'll see how things develop in no time."
"If the Yang family makes a decision sooner, they will become honored guests of the Dao Academy in the future, and the Central Continent will also enjoy the blessing of fortune."
"If we keep delaying, by the time the situation is settled, we may have no other choice."
Yang Xuan remained humble, nodding repeatedly in agreement, but his words were still the same old rhetoric:
"Fellow Daoist is absolutely right. I will certainly report this matter to the Elders' Hall exactly as it is, but it is necessary according to family rules and cannot be rushed."
"Please rest in Yangcheng for a few days, fellow Daoist. I will inform you of the results as soon as possible."
No matter how Li Jingyun explained the advantages and disadvantages and reiterated his sincerity, Yang Xuan remained unmoved, always making vague excuses and refusing to give a direct response.
The negotiations reached a stalemate, and Li Jingyun had no choice but to sit quietly in the side hall and wait patiently.
He was already certain that the people from the Heavenly Spirit Holy Land had arrived in Yang City, but the Yang family was simply unwilling to reveal anything about it.
Meanwhile, the atmosphere was somber inside the western side hall of the Yang Family Main Hall.
Grand Elder Jiang Li of the Heavenly Spirit Holy Land sat in the main seat. His hair and beard were all white, his face was spirited, and his eyes were as deep as the sea.
This is a veteran powerhouse who has lived for nearly three thousand years, with unfathomable depths of cunning.
The Yang family is also a top power in the Nine Provinces. They are strong and proficient in spatial secret passages. They cooperate with various forces in the Nine Provinces. Even if the Heavenly Spirit Holy Land wants to establish an immortal dynasty, it does not dare to easily make a move against the Yang family.
Facing the Yang family's deputy patriarch who came to greet him, Jiang Li spoke calmly, but with an air of authority: "I have come here today for no other reason than the matter of the Central Continent teleportation array."
"Today, the Heavenly Spirit Holy Land holds the Central Continent Cauldron and intends to establish the Heavenly Spirit Immortal Dynasty, gathering the fortune of all spirits in the Central Continent to oppose the Great Evolution Immortal Dynasty of Qingzhou. This is an inevitable trend."
"The Yang family controls the teleportation array in Zhongzhou. If they can cooperate with the Tianling Immortal Dynasty, the Yang family will be the founding heroes after the Immortal Dynasty unifies Zhongzhou. The entire clan can enjoy the blessing of the Immortal Dynasty's fortune and their cultivation of Daoist arts will progress by leaps and bounds."
His tone was calm yet resolute: "I know the Yang family adheres to neutrality, and I also understand their concerns."
"The Celestial Dynasty has no intention of interfering with the Yang family's business. It only requires that the teleportation array be prioritized for Tianling and its allied forces. Everything else shall proceed as before."
"As long as the Yang family follows the trend, they can ensure their dynasty lasts for ten thousand years."
However, the deputy patriarch of the Yang family remained vague, only saying that the matter needed to be reported to the patriarch and the elders' hall, and that he dared not make a decision on his own.
He used the same method to fob off Jiang Li.
Jiang Li, being so shrewd and experienced, saw through the Yang family's delaying tactic at a glance, yet she remained unperturbed.
He knew the Yang family's strength and was also aware that he could not act recklessly on the Yang family's territory. So he said no more, closed his eyes to rest, and waited here!
Inside the side hall on the east side, Li Jingyun sat quietly for a long time. Seeing that the Yang family still refused to give a word, he became increasingly anxious.
As his thoughts rose and fell, the Dragon Roar Sword hummed in response.
The unparalleled sword intent of the Dragon Roar Sword, carrying the unique Daoist charm of the Daoist Academy, gently rippled within the spatial array of the Yang Family Headquarters.
This almost imperceptible aura was precisely detected by Jiang Li, who was inside the west side hall.
The next moment, Jiang Li slowly opened her eyes.
A cold glint suddenly flashed in those deep eyes, and a murderous intent quietly rose in his heart.
He twitched his fingertips slightly, repeatedly locking onto the source of the aura with his divine sense. After confirming it again and again, a cold smile curled at the corner of his mouth.
"The aura of the Dragon's Roar Sword... belongs to Li Jingyun."
In just a moment, he recognized the owner of that aura.
Li Jingyun, the second most outstanding talent in the Dao Academy after Xia Linxian, was the mastermind behind the interception and killing of the Heavenly Spirit Envoy and the disruption of the Immortal Dynasty's integration. He was also the Dao Academy's right-hand man in Zhongzhou!
Jiang Li slowly stood up, her aura still calm, without the slightest hint of killing intent.
He walked slowly and silently toward the side hall on the east side.
Jiang Li had already made up his mind: this was the perfect opportunity to capture and kill Li Jingyun and eliminate this major threat forever!